Web guiding device, particularly for tentering frames



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\lll' LRLHUL XR 294519343 FIPBZIZ WEB GUIDING DEVICE, PARTICULARLY FORTENTERING FRAMES Filed March 1. 1946 A. KUNZLE Oct. 12, 1948.

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTQZ Aucus'r K'u'nzuz. BY M an L;- 1'

TORNEYS- A. KUNZLE Oct. 12, 1948.

WEB GUIDING DEVICE, PARTICULARLY FOR ENTERING FRAMES Filid larch 1, 19465 Shuts-sheaf; 2

INVENTOR. AUGUST KGN ZLE.

m. M? W A ATTORN EY.

"JUU'IUl K A. KUNZLEZ Filed larch 1, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 lY/ f'y- I 1%5a 3 45.1 I v 35 v F I *g 8 I l 54; I L45; 45R 4.5 451R 1 m v 5% 2,, I15p) V NNNNNNN R.

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WEB eumme DEVICE, PARTICULARLY FOR rsurznrua rnmms Filed inch 1, 1 94s 5Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

Aucus'r KL'JNZLE.

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EXAMINER Patented Oct. 12, 1948 WEB GUIDING DEVICE, PARTICULARLY FOR-TENT1ERING FRAMES August Kiinzle, Wattwil, Switaerland, asslgnor toHeberlein Patent Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New YorkApplication March-1, 1946, Serial No. 851,242

In Switzerland March 5, 1945 1 ll Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for operating upon textile or thelike webs of material and has to do more particularly with suchapparatus wherein means is employed for holding such web adjacent itsrespectively opposite longitudinal edges while conducting it in alongitudinal direction. More specifically, the invention has to do withapparatus operable to laterally adjust or direct the marginal edge intoproper alignment with such holding and conductin means in order that theweb in its progressive longitudinal travel may be uniformly andaccurately engaged along its longitudinal marginal edges by said holdingand conducting means. In numerous textile operations means arewell-known for holding textile webs and conducting them through suitableprocessing, finishing or the like stages, such for example as so-calledstretching frames which may be either tentering or non-tentering inoperation, and the particular type of holding means may be eitherso-called needle chains or clamp chains or the like well-known to thoseskilled in this art.

Heretofore in introducing the web into apparatus of this character thenecessary relative adjustment between the holding and conducting meansand the respective edges of the web has (Cl. 2H7) Another object of theinvention is to provide quickly acting apparatus for entering fabric intentering frames and the like, whether suppli with pin or clip chains.

been efiected by laterally adjusting the engaging I position of theinput ends of the laterally spaced conducting means, such as Din orclamp chains, under the control of feelers or the like control means. Inother words, in accordance with prior practice the holding andconducting means, such as the pin or clamp chains were adjustedlaterally at their entering ends so as to be brought to the laterallyvarying positions occupied by the sinuous edge of the web, such as theselvage of a textile fabric. This prior method has the disadvantage thatalthough the feelers or other control means reacted with sumcientrapidity, the transmission of such reaction into movement of the holdingand conducting means relative to the selvage edge was impeded and wasnot effected with suilicient rapidity by reasons of the inertia of theconsiderable mass or by lost motion inner ent in the numerous movingparts. For such reason the entering of fabrics with a sinuous or otherunsatisfactory border into holding and conducting means such as pin orclamp chains, was not possible, particularly when such fabrics wereintroduced in a tension-free condition.

An object of the invention is to provide an elective and dependableapparatus having the desired characteristics and obviating theabovenentioned disadvantages.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for laterallyguiding the edges of a longitudinally .traveling web of fabric or thelike flexible material to conducting or holding means disposed in fixedlateral position at respective marginal edges of said web.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus which isreadily adjustable to different web widths and can be regulated for,varying the rapidity of responsiveness.

Further and more specific objects, features and advantages will moreclearly appear from the detailed description given below taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of thisspeciflcatipn.

Referring to the drawings: Fig, 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic sideelevational view of an embodiment of the invention utilizing pin chains;v

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 from whichcertain parts are omitted for I clarity Fig. 3 is a view similar to rig.l but showing the nected guide rollers shown in Figs. 1-3;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7,showing further details of the said magnet:

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. '7 viewed fromthe outer side;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the said device shown in Figs. 7 and 9;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken at .lili of needle or clamp chains. InFigs. 1 and 2 pin chains are shown and pin pressure brushes such as I!are provided for urging the fabric margin. such as the selvage edges,into piercing engagement with the needles in a well-known manner. It isnoted that the journals Ila are set in a predetermined fixed position ofadjustment so as to provide the desired fixed lateral spacing of theinput chain ends for a given width and character of fabric; incontra-distinction to the usual practice of adjusting the input endstoward or away from the fabric path to engage the sinuous edges. Thisinvention contemplates adjusting the guiding means for the edges so asto enter the edges in proper register with the relatively fixed;

chain feed intake, in the manner now to be described.

A pair of guide units, each designated in its entirety as G, aredisposed in close proximity to the inlet ends of the feed chains l andare spaced laterally in suitable adjusted position, commensurate withthe width of fabric being handled. Each of the guide units G in thepresent embodiment comprises a pair of cooperating freely rotatablerollers 22' between which the edge of the fabric is engaged. The rollers(Fig. 11) are freely mounted. as on ball bearings I6, for rotating aboutsubstantially parallel axes and are supported on a frame I (Figs. '7, 9and 12) which is mounted for pivotal movement about a torque axis 3 (seealso Figs. 4-6) normal to the axes of the rollers and to the path oftravel of the fabric web. One of the rollers of each pair, such as thebottom roll 2'. is provided with a corrugated periphery I! (Fig. 11a)and the other. such as the top roll 2, is provided with a relativelysmooth rubber or the like resilient covering 20 (see also Fig. 11) Theroll 2 is journaled on rigid arms pivoted on said frame it and urgedinto cooperative gripping relation with the roll 2' by torsion springssuch as 2i (Fig. 12). The holder frame it and rollers 3 and theirmountings are purposely kept to a light weight, for example, about 150grams. The frame ll carries rigidly secured thereto a verticallyextending axle shaft i3 concentric with the axis 3 (Fig. 9) and providedwith an integral armature portion I! which is preferably of general ovalcross-section. Shaft I3 is suitably journaled in radial and axial thrustball bearings such as It secured in the frame of an alectro-magnetdesignated in general as I5 and having pole pieces iSa, cooperativelyassociated coils llb, and pole ends lic spaced apart laterally toprovide a gap in which is disposed the armature ii. The pole ends lieare preferably tapered inwardly (Fig. 8) transversely, so as to providea concentrated flux field. and are preferably provided with concavefaces concentric to corresponding convex segments of said armature. Thedirection of angular movement of the armature I! (Fig. 8) under magnetinfluence is anti-clockwise. A countertorque spring ll (Figs. 7, 9 and12) urges the frame II and pair of rolls 2-4 in a clockwise (Fig. 8)angular direction about the axis 3 (Fig.

former designated in general as '8! is provided 1 traversing edge offabric I.

l2).'i. e.. opposite to that in which it is moved by the electro-magnetll. The guide uni are suitably mounted for adjustable lateil ovementtoward and away from the pa of fabric travel, so as to set the rolls 2-!in p per relation to the selvage edges of the fabric. For example (Fig.7) the magnet II is provided with a frame plate IIP slidably mounted insuitable guide rails IIR.

' Photoelectric control Photo-electric control units for the respectiveguide units G each comprise (Figs. 1, 7 and 13) a light projector Q anda P. E. cell 8 mounted as a unit and adjustable in a direction parallelto the movement of the guide units G, such as by a suitable supportingbracket B (Figs. '7 and 13) carried by the plate "P, to therebyslidingly adjust the control unit into registered position relative tothe fabric edge. The light projector l and P. E. cell I are so arrangedthat a spot of light I (Figs. 4-6 and 13) from the projector is directedinto operative position on the P. E. cell 8 and the path of the selvedgeedge traverses the beam of light so that the P. E. cell is under theinfluence of the selvage. As will be seen (Figs. 4-6) the spot of light5 and the torque axis of guide rollers 2-2 are centered on a linedefining the desired path of travel of a fabric edge. Preferablymirrors, such as l, are disposed in fixed position beneath therespective fabric edges in proper alignment with the guide units 6 andcontrol units 8-8 and are so placed that the spot I is half under andhalf beyond the desired position of the fabric edge relative to thechains ill at their input ends. The use of mirrors insures properdefinition of the light spot at the fabric plane and reflector thereofto said photoelectric cell. To prevent moisture condensation on themirrors 4 suitable heating elements II are preferably employed. Theprojector 8 provides suitable means for adjusting the size of the lightspot I, such as by adjusting the projector lens in the manner well-knownto those skilled in the art; This variation in the size of the spot is afeature of the invention which provides a facile way of varying therapidity of response to the control unit.

Electric circuit Referring more particularly to Fig. 14: a transwith aprimary winding 22, connected to a suitable source of electricity ll andsecondary wind? ings II. It and II for furnishing 6 v., v. and 4 v.respectively. The winding 23 furnishes current to the lamp of theprojector I; the winding 24 is connected to a potentiometer 28 whichsupplies voltage to the grid of a triode 2| and the winding 25 suppliesvoltage to the cathode filament of the triode 28. A resistance 2'! ofabout 10 megohms is interposed in one of the branches of the gridcircuit and the photoelectric'oell I is interposed in the other of saidbranches. The anode of the triode I! is connected to one end of thewinding of electromagnet II whose other endis connected to one branch ofthe power line from source ii. A condenser 28 of about 30 microfarads isin circuit across the winding of electromagnet ii. It will thus be seenthat anodic current is furnished for energizing the electromasnet il inaccordance with the activation of photo-electric cell I according to thedegree of interception of the activating light beam by the In accordancewith the preferred form of the invention the current required to operatethe electro-magnet II is relatively weak, 1. e., about 50 to 100milliamperes, but with the form Of electro-magnetic means utilized thetorsional movement is suiilciently large to introduce fabrics underconsiderable tension.

Operation With the guide units G and associated photoelectric cellcontrols disposed in the manner above described the two sets of rollerpairs will grip the respective opposite marginal edges of the fabric Iand each roller pair will be operable to swivel about its torque axis 3which is normal to the path of fabric travel. The rollers being fullyrotatable about their axes will permit the fabric to be freely drawntherebetween in the direction of web travel but due to the grippingaction and enhanced by the corrugated periphery of the lower roller andresilient surface of the other roller the fabric will be so held againstlateral or angular movement relative to the rollers that its path isreadily controllable by angular movement of the rollers. In the firstinstance the guide rollers of respective guide units (Figs. 1 and 2)will be assumed to be in a neutral position corresponding to that shownin Fig. 4 for one side of the fabric. In this position the web edges lieon the desired lines of feed and pass through the center of respectivelight spots 5. Assuming, now, that the edge of the fabric web I liesoutside of the desired path of travel as determined by the setting offeed chains l I, then the edge will approach the corresponding guiderollers in the manner shown in Fig. 5. At first the web edge will coverthe light spot, or at least reduce the exposed area, thereby eliminatingor reducing the P. E. cell activation and a corresponding diminution ofcurrent flow through magnet coil lSb of that unit and reduction inmagnetic torque. This will result in actuation of the unit G, under theinfluence of spring II, to angularly move the guide rollers about theirswivel axis '8 to the angle shown in Fig. 5 and this in turn will guideor direct the web edge in the desired or neutral line of travel.Conversely, if the edge lies inside the desired path of travel, therollers 2-! adjacent that edge will be angularly moved about theirtorque axis 3 to the position shown in Fig. 6; due to the increase in P.E. cell activation causing corresponding increase in current supplied toenergize magnet i5 and increase in ma netic torque sufficient topartially or fully overcome the countertorque of spring II.

It will be noted that the position of balance between the torque of themagnet l5 and countertorque spring ll makes it possible to use only onelight spot and associated photoelectric cell adjacent each fabric edge,and hence provides a greatly simplified apparatus. In addition. thisarrangement provides an extremely sensitive control. Furthermore, thefixed input feed throat of the chains such as I I (for a given width offabric) in addition to permitting sensitiveness of adjustment due to theelimination of undesirable inertia and lost motion of moving parts,eliminates continuous movement of chains II which would be required ifthe chains were adjusted laterally toward the fabric edge, as in theprior devices.

In contradistinction to devices already known,

it is possible to obtain with the apparatus acdeflection in about /sopart of a second, whereby very considerable sinuosities of the borderare contacted for entering the fabric into the pin or clamp chainwithout tension.' This result is achieved more particularly by the smallguide rails I51,- can be conveniently altered during the working of themachine. Thereby the depth, 1. e., the distance-inwardly from the edge.to which the pins are pressed in the fabric, can be regulated as desiredduring'operation.

A further advantage of the apparatus. according to the invention, isafforded by the possibility to influence the smoothness of theregulation by the size of the spot of a light on the selvage. Thefeelers of the entering devices hitherto in use only permit thechange-over from the forward to the reverse running or vice verse. ofthe adjusting motor of the inlet field, but do not allow any control ofthe speed in the adjustment of the selvage to the inlet field. Incontradistinction thereto, the apparatus according to the inventionallows the regulation of the speed of the adjustment in high degree bythe employment of a spot of lightas a feeling device, which is coveredor uncovered by the selvage. By such means the size of the spot effectsthe rapidity of the responsiveness of the adjustment. The larger thespot is, the more gradual is the adjustment. This is effected at thecost of the accuracy, because with a large spot the deviations of theentering edge and the corresponding deviation in the position of theengagement thereof by the pins is increased.

Having thus described my invention with particularity in connection withcertain preferred forms thereof, it will be obvious to those skilled inthe art, after understanding my invention, that other changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention, and I aim in the appended claims to cover such changesand modifications as are within the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus for controlling the lateral alignment of a marginal edgeof a longitudinally traveling web of textile fabric or the like flexiblematerial, the combination of a pair of rotatable guide rollersconstructed and arranged to grip said marginal edge therebetween andpivotally mounted for angular movement about a torque axis substantiallynormal to said web travel. electro-magnetic motive means exerting acontinuous torque force when energized, for progressively angularlymoving said rollers in one direction only about their torque axis to anydesired torque position within the range of movement, a counter-torquespring urging said rollers in an opposite direction of angular movement.and photoelectric means for controlling said motive means, saidphotoelectric control means comprising a photoelectric cell and meansfor projecting a beam of light across the path of travel of said webedge and onto said photoelectric cell said electro-ma-gnetic motivemeans and photoelectric cell control means being so coning mountedstructed and arranged that the angular movement of said pair of guiderollers about said proportionately with the from its desired torque axisincreases increasing deviation of fabric course.

2. In apparatus for controlling the lateral alignment of a marginal edgeof a longitudinally traveling web of textile fabric or the like flexiblematerial relative to margin engageable means such as a feed chain or atenter frame, the combination of a pair of freely rotatable guiderollers constructed and arranged to grip said marginal edge therebetweenand pivotally mounted for angularmovement about a torque axissubstantially normal to said web travel, said rollers befor lateraladjustment movement toward and away from the path of travel of saidmargin engageable means, electromagnetic motive means exerting acontinuous torque force when energized, for progressively angularlymoving said rollers in one direction only about their torque axis to anydesired torque position within the range of movement. a counter-torquespring urging said rollers in an opposite direction of angular movement,and photoelectric means for controlling said motive means, saidphotoelectric control means comprising a photoelectric cell and meansfor projecting a beam of light across the path of the edge of said webin alignment with said margin engageable means and onto saidphotoelectric cell said electro-magnetic motive means and photoelectriccell control means being so constructed and arranged that the angularmovement of said pair of guide rollers about said torque axis increasesproportionately z with the increasing deviation of fabric from itsdesired course.

3. In apparatus ment of a marginal edge of a longitudinally travelingweb of textile fabric or the like flexible material. the combination ofa pair of rotatable guide rollers constructed and arranged to grip saidmarginal edge therebetween and pivotally mounted for angular movementabout a torque axis, substantially normal to said web travel.electro-magnetic motive means exerting a continuous torque force whenenergized, for progressively angularly moving said rollers in onedirection only about their torque axis to any desired torque positionwithin the range of movement, a counter-torque spring urging saidrollers in an opposite direction of angular movement, and photoelectricmeans for controlling said motive means. said photoelectric controlmeans comprising a photoelectric cell and means for projecting a beam oflight across the path of travel of said web edge and onto saidphotoelectric cell, said projector including means for adjusting thecross-sectional size of said light beam in .the plane of travel of saidweb, said electro-magnetic motive means and photoelectric cell controlmeans being so constructed and arranged that the angular movement ofsaid pair of guide rollers about said torque axis increasesproportionately with the increasing deviation of fabric from its desiredcourse.

4. In apparatus for controlling the lateral alignment of a marginal edgeof a longitudinally traveling web of textile fabric or the like flexiblematerial, the combination of a pair of rotatable guide rollersconstructed and arranged to grip said marginal edge therebetween andpivotally mounted for angular movement about a torque axis substantiallynormal to said web travel, electro-magnetic motive means exerting a con-Ill for controlling the lateral align- V tween said pole faces,

8 tinuous torque force when energized. for progressively angularlymoving said rollers in one direction only about their torque axis to anydesider torque position within the range of movement, a counter-torquespring urging said rollers in an opposite direction of angular movementand photoelectric means for controlling said motive means, saidphotoelectric control means comprising a photoelectric cell and meansfor projecting a beam of light across the path of and in register withone edge of a traveling web to be aligned, and a reflecting surface infixed position contiguous said plane of travel and interposed in thelight path between said projector and cell said electro-magnet motivemeans and photoelectric cell control means being so constructed andarranged that the angular movement of said pair of guide rollers aboutsaid torque axis increases proportionately with the increasing deviationof fabric from its desired course.

5. In apparatus for controlling the lateral alignment of a marginal edgeof a longitudinally traveling web of textile fabric or the like flexiblematerial, the combination of a pair of rotatable guide rollersconstructed and arranged to grip said marginal edge therebetween andpivotally mounted for angular movement about a torque axis substantiallynormal to said web travel, electro-magnetic motive means exerting acontinuous torque force when energized, for progressively angularlymoving said rollers in one direction only about their torque axis to anydesired torque position within the range of movement, acounter-torquespring urging said rollers in an opposite direction of angular movement,and photoelectric means for controlling said motive means. saidphotoelectric control means comprising a photoelectric cell and a lightprojector mounted for simultaneous movement toward and away from saidpath of travel of said marginal edge. said cell and projector being soconstructed and arranged that light from said projector to said cell isintercepted by said path of travel to an extent commensurate with thedegree of alignment control of an edge of fabric relative to its path oftravel said electro-magnetic motive means and photoelectric cell controlmeans being so constructed and arranged that the angular movement ofsaid pair of guide rollers about said torque axis increasesproportionately with the increasing deviation of fabric from its desiredcourse.

6. In apparatus for guiding the edge of a traveling web of 'textilefabric or the like flexible material, the combination of anelectromotive means comprising pole ends spaced apart to pro vide anarmature gap and a soft iron armature disposed in said gap and mountedfor angular movement about a torque axis, said sole ends being taperedlaterally toward their inner ends and presenting faces relatively narrowin lateral extent and relatively long in a direction substantiallyparallel to said torque axis, said armature being of generally ovalcross-section with its greatest diameter slightly less than the spacehea pair of rotatable guide rollers resiliently urged towards each otherfor engaging a web of material to be guided thereby and mounted forangular motion about an axis of revolution substantially normal to theiraxes of rotation. said guide rollers being drivingly con nected to saidarmature for angular movement thereby in one direction about said axisof revolution, a counter-torque spring urging said rollers and armaturein an opposite direction of angular movement about said axis ofrevolution. and photoelectric means including a photoelectric cell forcontrolling said motive means and a light source for activating saidcell, said light source and cell being so disposed relative to eachother and to the desired path of travel of a fabric edge that the beamof light from said light source to said cell is traversed by the saidfabric edge.

7. In apparatus for guiding the edge of a traveling web of textilefabric or the like flexible material, the combination of electromotivemeans comprising pole ends spaced apart to provide an armature gap andan armature disposed in said gap and mounted for angular movement in onedirection only about a torque axis, a pair of guide rollers resilientlyurged towards each other for engaging a web of material to be guidedthereby and rotatable about axes substantially normal to said torqueaxis, said guide rollers being drivingly connected to said armature forangular movement thereby in said one direction, a counter-torque springurging said rollers and armature in an opposlte direction of angularmovement and photoelectric means including a photoelectric cell forcontrolling said motive means and a light source for activating saidcell, said light source and cell being so disposed relative to eachother and to the desired path of travel of a fabric edge that the beamof light from said light source to said cell is traversed by the saidfabric edge.

8. In apparatus for controlling the lateral alignment of a marginal edgeof a longitudinally traveling web of textile fabric or the like flexiblematerial, the combination of a pair of freely rotatable guide rollersconstructed and arranged to grip said marginal edge therebetween andpivotally mounted for angular movement about a torque axis substantiallynormal to said web travel, electro-magnetic motive means for angularly'moving said rollers in one direction only about their torque axis, acounter-torque spring urging said rollers in an opposite direction ofangular movement about said torque axis an electrical circuit comprisinga thermionic valve for .supplying anodic current to saidelectro-magnetic motive means and a, photo-electric cell for controllingsaid anodic current, and means for pro- Jecting a beam of light acrossthe path or travel of said web edge and onto said photoelectric cell, tothereby align an edge of said traveling web in accordance with itsdegree of interception of said said pairs of rollers for progressivelyangularly moving the same in one direction only about their torque axes,a pair of counter-torque springs urging respective of said pairs ofrollers in an opposite direction of movement about respective of saidtorque axes, and photoelectric means operatively connected to respectiveof said motive means for controlling the same, said photoelectric meanseach comprising a photoelectric cell and means for projecting a beam oflight across the path of travel of its corresponding web margin and ontoits corresponding photoelectric cell.

AUGUST REFERENCES crrn'n The following references are of record in thefile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 949,740 Larson I'eb. 15, 19101,185,173 Bolton May 80, 1916 1,203,719 Edmunds Nov. 7, 1916 1,928,750Apple et a1. Oct. 3, 1939 2,088,984 Tandel Aug. 3, 1987 2,205,777Fairchild June 3 am FOREIGN PATENTS I Number Country Date 241,054Germany Nov. 17, 1911 m REFERENCES "Electronics," April 1943, pages 144,146, 149. 009! in Div. 21.

